Chemical Health and Safety Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences
Kent Campus
In her role as Chemical Health and Safety Coordinator, Kara Barnett has transformed the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry into a university role model for safety practices and procedures. Barnett’s work has significantly reduced safety related injuries and hazards to faculty, staff and students.
Barnett was responsible for the Department conforming with national standards so that all faculty, staff and students adhere to proper PPE protocols in laboratory situations, which includes wearing protective eyewear, laboratory coats and gloves, protocols that were not common before Barnett arrived at Kent State in 2017. Barnett was instrumental in developing the department’s Chemical Hygiene Plan that has been implemented in the chemistry laboratories at all university campuses.
Most recently, during the COVID-19 surge in spring 2020, Barnett spearheaded a PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) donation program to local health care first responders at hospitals, health centers and county agencies. Due to her efforts, Kent State contributed over 40,000 pairs of gloves, 1,700 surgical masks, 166 N95 masks, 19 face shields and two ventilators along with disposable lab coats, antiseptics and shoe covers to local healthcare agencies.